Australia's Steve Smith: 'England won't come close in The Ashes'

Australia batsman Steve Smith believes that England will not "come close" to winning The Ashes on home turf this summer.

The Aussies currently hold the urn following a comfortable triumph Down Under last winter, and Smith is confident that the team's form will not wane.

"I can't wait to get over there and play another Ashes against England in their conditions after beating them so convincingly in Australia," Smith told ESPN.

"It's going to be nice to go in their backyard. If we continue to play the way we have been playing over the last 12 to 18 months, I don't think that they'll come close to us to be honest."

England have struggled in Test and one-day formats of late, but they currently have a 1-0 lead in a three-day series against the West Indies after sealing a nine-wicket win in the second Test.